Mary Ellen Owen

of Belleair Bluffs, FL passed away on Wednesday, November 23, 2022 at the age of 102. She was the wife of Richard H. Owen, III who passed away in 1999. Born at home to the Reverend Doctor Charles Newton Clark and Ada Theodora Inman Clark at 8:45AM on May 31, 1920 in the city of St. Louis, Missouri. When she was 18 and in her third year at Duke University she met her future husband Richard. They were married at the end of her Junior year.

For many years while living in Richmond, Virginia she was very active in the Methodist Church, and was elected to the General Conference in 1968 as well as the 1970 Unification Conference in Dallas, Texas. She was president of the Tuckahoe Woman’s Club for two terms where she met many famous people such as, Vincent Price, and fashion designers Bill Blass, and Norman Norell, to name a few.

Upon moving to Belleair Bluffs, Florida she modeled for Maas and Robinson department Stores. After Richard’s death on May 19, 1999 she volunteered at Morton Plant Hospital for 21 years. She was a member of First United Methodist Church - Clearwater, Belleair Country Club, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, National Society of Arts and Letters, and the Republican Women.

Mary Ellen is survived by her son Richard H. Owen, IV married to Eby Jean Sauder Owen of Charlottesville, Virginia. Her grandchildren are Fae Loraine Cordova and Richard H. Owen, V. She is also survived by six great grandchildren and five great great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church - Clearwater at 1P.M. on January 7, 2023. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First United Methodist Church - Clearwater, 411 Turner Street, Clearwater, Florida 33756.